Zero Day Code

End of Days, Book 1

De: John Birmingham

Narrado por: Rupert Degas

Every modern city has one week’s worth of food to feed itself. Then it will collapse.

Cut off the resources to New York, Sydney, or even a mid-size metropolis, and millions will soon starve. In Zero Day Code we see those immense and open, hyper-complex, networked supercities of the new millennium die. And in the last moments we see their vengeance take form as all the best and worst traits of humanity bubble to the surface.

Zero Day Code is set in a realistic near future with dwindling global food supplies under increasing pressure from worsening droughts, floods and extreme weather events. Written by prolific Australian writer John Birmingham, the thriller follows a handful of survivors from the first day of society’s descent into violent, uncertain futures.

James, a consultant to the US National Security Council, is the first to suspect that the worldwide emergence of a crippling computer virus is actually a cover for something else - a devastating cyber-attack by China on the food distribution system of the United States. The attack is a bid for the Middle Kingdom to distract America as it seizes the food bowl of South East Asia and feeds its starving population. But Beijing has miscalculated.

Follow the missions of an embittered activist chasing salvation, a single mum rescuing her child from a frantic San Francisco and an army veteran who has long retreated from society, as the world they knew crumbles around them.

Please note: this audiobook contains mature content and listener discretion is advised.

©2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. (P)2019 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.

Missing the mark on the details

I love the stories that spring from Birmingham’s imagination. However, his attention to detail leaves a great deal to be desired. I read many of his earlier works with relish and enjoyment and remember thinking that his writing was well thought out and well researched. Those days seem to be over if this and some of his more recent works are to be the new benchmark.

I remember reading in one of his works an afterward where he thanked people who helped him with the details. He spoke of how much effort was put into finding out what color the carpet was in a particular hotel lobby in a certain year. It seems that ambition has left town.

Attention to detail is good and essential. When you hit a snag it is like a pothole on a road that is otherwise as smooth as a co-ed’s breast. It is not pleasant and it detracts from the story to say the least.

I appreciate that Mr. Birmingham is from Australia and this is from Audible Australia, but it is about Americans (mostly) in America (mostly). In America, Montana ranchers do not keep “biscuit” tins in their kitchens, they have a “cookie tin.” Americans do not buy “tinned food,” we buy “canned food.” I have never seen a Dollar General with a butcher’s section in the US. Americans use flashlights, not “torches.” The US Army phased out BDU’s a dozen years ago.

I’m sure that I would have a good bit of a hard time writing about the adventures of some group of mango hunters fighting off dingo packs in the koala infested Australian highlands. But I would try and get the details right or write about a different topic. Those few detailic errors made it crystal clear that this was simple fiction that would jar you back to reality rather than a good yarn that you can stay lost in and beg for more.

to boring and slow for me

It's to boring and slow for me. To many people to keep track of and jumps around even through the middle of chapters

cyberpocalypse

Hah! Leftists dissing this story as rightist propaganda, rightists disparaging this as leftist drivel! I remain unsure if that makes this a winner or a loser!

Rupert Degas is amazing in his voicing and his expression. His voices show size, personality, and background; his expression shows correct reading of lines. Very enjoyable.

The story did introduce a lot of characters in the first few chapters just to set the world stage. Then it narrows down to the Zero Day impact on the lives of just a few people in the USA. I found the scenarios quite plausible: food shortages, riots, shootings and lootings, people heading for the hills, breakdown of lawful order, cash-only society leading to food is the most important commodity. I especially like the suffering combat vet and his former-cop girlfriend, followed by the other guy. There is another guy in top physical form running from some illegal activity who accidentally becomes a hero. The women are a mix of one who falls apart, one who is emotionally tough, one who can fight, and one who can analyze. And the epilog explains that it is still the government selfish ones who cause all the trouble.

I say hooray for Audible Australia. Sure there are some anatopisms like biscuit tins rather than cookie tins or even cookie bag/package, and torch for flashlight, but I found the story plausible, and the people likable.

There are 2 more books in the series so far, and I will be reading them!

A different type of end of civilization

truly enjoyed. No EMP, No asteroid, no global warming. a much more believable scenario.
Narration is good, excited about continuing the. story.

A thriller you love!!!!!

You will not regret this book and stay on the edge of your seat surprises around every corner